Discussions By Condition: I cannot get a diagnosis.

help me- are there anymore tests, ?? any suggestions? could certain tests not be sens

i cannot emphasise enough how desperate i am for a diagnoses. I am a 23 year old female who has struggled with weight my entire life. i was a lean ,even skinny child but Post puberty Weight came on instantly, and came on big, without making any sense. I was put on a healthy eating plan designed by a dietician as well as an active PE plan, but nothing happened, the weight stayed on, and let me tell you that its a very bulky thick-legged (calves and thighs), thick-arm kind of weight.The only breakthrough i got was one i turned anorexic for about a year when i was 16, and then too did weight on arms and legs stay(there was a very slight thinning). It is the most puzzling unnatuaral thing. My waist is unproprotional to my heavy arms and legs.My wrist size is tiny and so is my frame i have a small face and slim neck.,and i am pretty short (notabnormally though) . It has stayed here for 13 years now, despite all the consistent exercise all the balanced eating for years end. I have been for the blood tests about 5 times over. tests for the endocrine glands.etc, i always suspected hypothyrodism etc but that has been cleared over and over by a three different endocrinoligists.I am a personal fitness trainer and have seen a series of dieticians for years now, nobody seems to be able to give me anyanswers. I am very yellow on my palms and soles of my feet. I was resently sent for cortisol, acth,prolactin tests, which were all cleared as well as cushings syndrom (im not sure why i ws sent for this test!) In any case, im desperate for answers, i feel abnormal, the fat looks unnatural, and even if its not treateable, i need to know, what is wrong with my body.please anybody. help me- are there anymore tests, ?? any suggestions? could certain tests not be sensitive enough to get a diagnosis.

5 Replies:

I am in a similar boat...er...body as you.:)Perhaps you should have your B12 level tested in addition to your folate, MMA and homocystein. At the very least, especially if you are feeling lethargic, have your B12 tested and then follow through with the folate, MMA, and homocysteine. The latter tests are needed to determine why you have a b12 deficiency.You can get this test done via a lab on-line. It isn't that expensive.Vitamin B12 is important in metabolism and energy in the cells of your body's mitochondria. A deficienty can lead to pernicious anemia.I have had similar tests as you also. Cortisol suppression test, etc. Though, you do not mention a B12 test.I do know people that have lost weight with B12 injections alone. Like 50 or 60 pounds.B12 alone did not work for me, unfortunately, but I am deficient, so that could be why. In lieu of more testing, I recommend that you visit this site about Alernative Weight Loss at : www.medhelp.org. Then go forum on Weight Loss Alternatives section.This forum is full of people that discuss alternatives for weight loss other than the norm. Such as various drug options and protocols for weight loss. Things people are trying on this site range from adipex (phentermine), B12/B6 shots, lipotropic shots, lipotropic and myoden shots, and an hCG protocol touted by Kevin Trudeau but based on Simeon's protocol from the 1950's. It is very interesting and I think you'll be glad you looked.Do not bother with anything over the counter. None of them work! Hoodia sounds promising, but you never know how much you are getting due to it not being regulated.The weight loss drug that just went on the market: Forget it! Alli or something. It is prescription reduced orlistat. I took it years ago and it was awful! Basically, going to the bathroom is a very "greasy" experience! The smell is awful and clothes are stained. Sometimes it causes a spontaneous eruption.....disgusting and embarrassing!!!!!!!!! On this drug, you will fear trying to pass a little gas without sitting on a commode!!!!!I am doing Adipex and B12/B6 injection. I am thinking about the lipotropics (they help your body metabolize fat in the liver better) and am also giving great consideration to hCG (because of certain stubborn areas). It is working well for me.Yes, hCG is Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin. The hormone released in the urine of pregnant women. It is used in fertility treatments to produce follicles that will hopefully have fertilizable eggs. The amount of hCG taken for "weight loss" is about 10,0000 times less that for fertility treatments, so it is not a lot. Body builders use hCG along with steroids for some reason. I don't know exactly why, but the amount of hCG used for "weight loss" is much much less. There are several clinics that you can go to to do the hCG protocol if you live near one, some are on line that send you the injections, and then if you are brave (or have the skill to self-inject) you can order the necessary implements and do it yourself at home. The actual clinics and on-line clinics first do a medical work-up on you. Or, if you have had bloodwork within the year by your regualr doc, they will accept that, too.Many people think hCG makes you lose weight. That is a misinterpretation of how hCG functions. Actually hCG acts as a weight loss aid or tool to help your body to stay on a very low calorie diet (500 calories). Yes, it sounds extreme! 500 Calories????? How could one possibly stick to that?!?!?!? Well, here's how: hCG' functions to help release nutrients and fluid into the blood stream when pregnant FROM ADIPOSE TISSUE - stored body fat. This is how the fetus is nourished when a woman becomes pregnant. With an hCG injection of 125 IU, about 2000 calories are released into the bloodstream, so you are not hungry after the 1st few days. You can only do this for 30 days. Lots of people disagree with this, but I happen to think it is very promising for abnormal fat stores. It doesn't make you releae structural fat, it just releases nutrients from the stored fat making the cells in those areaa shrink. It is not the same as "just doing a very restrictive diet". I am not sure how....but it is supposed to "reset" the hypothalamus so your hunger also returns to normal.During weight loss/calorie restriction, the stored body fat is the last to go (such as the areas that you are unsatisfied with). An interesting site on how fat in the body works: http://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep-obesity.htm. but they indicate the solution is what you (we) have done. That obviously doesn't work for us. From my research, the newly discovered hormone leptin plays a role in fat. Also another hormone to research, the hunger hormone, I think is called ghrelin. There is a book out, the Leptin Diet, that supposedly helps you with leptin. I have it, but I am not following it. I needed more help than that quite simply.I hope this helps! Let me know what you think.Val

Have any of your doctors considered CFS? It is exploding in this country and world wide. It is a real disease and doctors are beginning to realize it by the influx of patients they are seeing with many symptoms that do not follow any pattern and all or most test results come back normal. Find a local doctor who does NAET or Bioset therapy.I have CFSBioset, eating raw, taking vitamins and herbs for symptoms instead of pharmacological meds is working for CFS patients. There is a circle of people working behind the scenes here, attempting to research and work together to figure this out. We all have CFS. We all read wd everyday and comment to each other on the amount of people entering this forum daily with our symptoms. I can be reached at bentnoteblues@netscape.net for further information/research Best of luck to you...Be Well...mommy cat

I am in a similar boat...er...body as you.:)Perhaps you should have your B12 level tested in addition to your folate, MMA and homocystein. At the very least, especially if you are feeling lethargic, have your B12 tested and then follow through with the folate, MMA, and homocysteine. The latter tests are needed to determine why you have a b12 deficiency.You can get this test done via a lab on-line. It isn't that expensive.Vitamin B12 is important in metabolism and energy in the cells of your body's mitochondria. A deficienty can lead to pernicious anemia.I have had similar tests as you also. Cortisol suppression test, etc. Though, you do not mention a B12 test.I do know people that have lost weight with B12 injections alone. Like 50 or 60 pounds.B12 alone did not work for me, unfortunately, but I am deficient, so that could be why. In lieu of more testing, I recommend that you visit this site about Alernative Weight Loss at : www.medhelp.org. Then go forum on Weight Loss Alternatives section.This forum is full of people that discuss alternatives for weight loss other than the norm. Such as various drug options and protocols for weight loss. Things people are trying on this site range from adipex (phentermine), B12/B6 shots, lipotropic shots, lipotropic and myoden shots, and an hCG protocol touted by Kevin Trudeau but based on Simeon's protocol from the 1950's. It is very interesting and I think you'll be glad you looked.Do not bother with anything over the counter. None of them work! Hoodia sounds promising, but you never know how much you are getting due to it not being regulated.The weight loss drug that just went on the market: Forget it! Alli or something. It is prescription reduced orlistat. I took it years ago and it was awful! Basically, going to the bathroom is a very "greasy" experience! The smell is awful and clothes are stained. Sometimes it causes a spontaneous eruption.....disgusting and embarrassing!!!!!!!!! On this drug, you will fear trying to pass a little gas without sitting on a commode!!!!!I am doing Adipex and B12/B6 injection. I am thinking about the lipotropics (they help your body metabolize fat in the liver better) and am also giving great consideration to hCG (because of certain stubborn areas). It is working well for me.Yes, hCG is Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin. The hormone released in the urine of pregnant women. It is used in fertility treatments to produce follicles that will hopefully have fertilizable eggs. The amount of hCG taken for "weight loss" is about 10,0000 times less that for fertility treatments, so it is not a lot. Body builders use hCG along with steroids for some reason. I don't know exactly why, but the amount of hCG used for "weight loss" is much much less. There are several clinics that you can go to to do the hCG protocol if you live near one, some are on line that send you the injections, and then if you are brave (or have the skill to self-inject) you can order the necessary implements and do it yourself at home. The actual clinics and on-line clinics first do a medical work-up on you. Or, if you have had bloodwork within the year by your regualr doc, they will accept that, too.Many people think hCG makes you lose weight. That is a misinterpretation of how hCG functions. Actually hCG acts as a weight loss aid or tool to help your body to stay on a very low calorie diet (500 calories). Yes, it sounds extreme! 500 Calories????? How could one possibly stick to that?!?!?!? Well, here's how: hCG' functions to help release nutrients and fluid into the blood stream when pregnant FROM ADIPOSE TISSUE - stored body fat. This is how the fetus is nourished when a woman becomes pregnant. With an hCG injection of 125 IU, about 2000 calories are released into the bloodstream, so you are not hungry after the 1st few days. You can only do this for 30 days. Lots of people disagree with this, but I happen to think it is very promising for abnormal fat stores. It doesn't make you releae structural fat, it just releases nutrients from the stored fat making the cells in those areaa shrink. It is not the same as "just doing a very restrictive diet". I am not sure how....but it is supposed to "reset" the hypothalamus so your hunger also returns to normal.During weight loss/calorie restriction, the stored body fat is the last to go (such as the areas that you are unsatisfied with). An interesting site on how fat in the body works: http://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep-obesity.htm. but they indicate the solution is what you (we) have done. That obviously doesn't work for us. From my research, the newly discovered hormone leptin plays a role in fat. Also another hormone to research, the hunger hormone, I think is called ghrelin. There is a book out, the Leptin Diet, that supposedly helps you with leptin. I have it, but I am not following it. I needed more help than that quite simply.I hope this helps! Let me know what you think.ValHi Val:Read your post and it sounds like we have alot in common.Same problem as you and I even went so far as having a lab that does genetic testing to see how I metabolize everything. They did show I do not metabolize fats easily and it showed that even with moderate exercise I would still have difficulty loosing weight!Your suggestion about b12 is something I'm going to look into as well as the leptin.Can't hurt at this stage to try it out. You are not alone though, not that it makes you feel any better, but no one is perfect and we can't help the genes we were born with in spite of what the general public and even most MD's think. Sometimes being overweight is not just a problem of someone overeating!Good luck,I'll let you know how it goes.MeoMio